Ignition system.



No. 696,885. Patented Apr. I, I902.

r. L. snsednv.

IGNITIDN SYSTEI.

(Applicltion filed. Dec. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Y: man man co.. motaurum wnsumcauu. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. GREGORY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

lGNlTlON SYSTEM.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,885, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed December 5, 1901. Serial No. 8 1,827. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FEED L. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I nition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric-spark systems for igniting charges in gas-engines and the like, and refers more specifically to an improved system of the character referred to wherein a dynamo and battery are combined so as to be used alternatively as the source of generation of electricity.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a system in which the normal working supply of electricity is generated by a dynamo connected with and driven by the motor to which the system is applied, but in which there is combined also a battery-circuit which is utilized to supply the initial firing of the charge or charges to start the motor running and while the dynamo is inactive; to provide in a system of this character an improved arrangement which insures that the battery will always be in open circuit, except only when the circuit is closed manually for the purpose of starting the motor, the circuit through the battery being opened automatically as soon as the dynamo begins to generate current; to provide improved circuit arrangements contributing to the ends aimed at, and in general to provide a simple and improved construction and arrangement of the system.

To these ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the invention will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system; and is a fragmentary detail of the arrangement of the sparking mechanism, the portion of the engine-cylinder being shown in axial section.

Referring to the said drawings, 1 designates as a whole an engine-cylinder, and 2 the iiy-wheel shaft thereof, upon which is mounted the usual fly-wheel 3.

t designates a rock-bar mounted in suitable bearings to extend through the side wall of the cylinder, as best indicated in Fig. 2, and provided at each end with crank portions, as at 5 and 6, the former of which constitutes the wiper or tappet device, between which and a cooperating contact, point or finger 7 the spark is formed in the usual manner. The crank portion 6 upon the outer end of said rock-bar is operatively connected, by means of a pitman-rod S, with an eccentric upon the fly-wheel shaft. It will be understood that this particular construction of ignition device is simplyillustrative and that any other suitable ignition mechanism may be substituted in the circuits hereinafter described.

9 designates as a whole a dynamo or generator suitably mounted adjacent to the fly wheel of the engine and provided upon its armature-shaft 10 with a friction-wheel 11, arranged in driving engagement with the periphery of the fiy-wheel 3 and whereby the dynamo is operated. The dynamo is pro vided with the usual pair of commutatorbrushes 12 and 13, with the former of which is connected a conductor ll, which leads to and through the coils of an electromaget, (designated 15.) Said electromagnet is conveniently provided with a base-plate 16, having an upstanding arm 17, upon which is mounted an angular plate-spring 18, which supports an armature 1O yieldingly within the field of force of the poles 20 and 21 of the magnet. A bracket 22, likewise mounted upon the arm 17, affords a convenient means of adjustably supporting a tension-spring 23, having one end connected with the armature and the opposite with an adjusting-screw 24, whereby the amount of force necessary to close the armature may be regulated at will.

25 designates as a whole an electric switch which is adapted to be moved both manually and automatically by spring-pressure. In the present embodiment said switch comprises a main switch-bar 26, pivotallymounted at one end, as indicated at 27, and adapted to be shifted into engagement with either one of a pair of contact-studs 28 and 29. A spring 80, suitably mounted upon a support 31, is arranged to normally force the switch-arm 26 into contact with the terminal 29.

ICO

32 designates an arm rigidly connected with the main arm 26 of the switch and insulated therefrom, as indicated at 33, said arm being arranged in the present instance to extend at an angle to the main arm 26 and being adapted to engage at its end with a shoulder 34 upon the armature 19, so as to hold the switch in contact with the contact-stud 28 against the tension of the spring 30 when the armature is in its normal unattracted or open position.

From the end of the windings of the magnet opposite that connected with the conductor 14 extends a conductor to the armature 19, said conductor 35 being conveniently shown as connected with the metallic springsupport. 18 of the armature in the present instance. From theinsulatecl arm 32 of the switch a conductor 36 leads back to the commutator-brush 13 of the dynamo, thus completing a circuit from the dynamo through the magnet, armature thereof, and arm 32 and back to the dynamo, when said arm 32 is engaged with the armature.

When the parts are in the position last mentioned, a second circuit is completed through a sparking-coil and battery, which is as follows: From the contact-finger 7 of the sparkin g device a conductor 37 leads to and through a battery 38, and from thence a conductor 39 leads to the terminal 28, hereinbefore described. From the switch-arm 26 (now in contact with the terminal 28) a conductor40 leads to and through a sparking-coil 41. From the sparking-coil a conductor 42 leads to the metallic body of the engine, which being in elecusual manner.

trical contact with the rock-bar 4 completes the circuit through the battery whenever the contacts of the ignition device are in bearing.

When the switch is in its normal working position, which is that shown in full lines in the drawings, and out of engagement with the armature of the magnet, a circuit may be traced through dynamo and sparking-coil as follows: From the conductor 14 a branch conductor 43 leads to the contact-terminal 29, thence through the switch-arm 26 and conductor 40 to the sparking-coil, from the latter to the engine through the conductor 42, and from the contact-finger 27 through conductor 37 to a branch thereof, 44, which leads to the commutator-brush 13 of the dynamo, thus completing this circuit.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: Normally the parts will be in the position shown in full lines in the diagram during the working of the engine and during which time the dynamo will be generating a supply of current, which whenever the ignition devices are closed will traverse the circuit hereinbefore described and whenever they are separated by the oscillation'of the rock-bar will cause a spark in the This sparking will obviously be regular as long as the engine remains running, and the parts will be permitted to remain in this position when the engine is stopped. When it is again desired'to start the engine, the operator will shift the switcharm 26 manually over into engagement with the contact device 28, and in so doing the end of the arm 32 will wipe past the inclined rear surface of the shoulder 42 and pass into operative engagement with the latter, thereby holding the switch mechanicallyin the dotted-line position. In this position the circuit will be closed (when the sparking-contacts are in engagement) through the battery 38. With the parts in this position, therefore, when the engine is moved-as, for example, manuallythrough its first cycle of movements and the sparking devices break contact the -spark will be produced from current supplied from the battery, thereby starting the engine, and this sparking will continue during subsequent revolutions of the engine until the position of the switch-arm 26 is changed. As soon as the dynamo, which of course begins to rotate with the engine, has acquired a movement suflicient to generate enough current to actuate the electromagnet the armature of the magnet will be drawn down, thereby releasing the arm 32 of the switch, which will thereupon be automatically thrown over into its opposite position by the tension of the spring 30, thus closing the circuit from the dynamo through the sparking-coil and opening the circuit from the dynamo through the electromagnet and switch-arm 32 and the battery-circuit. It will thus be seen that the battery-circuit is never closed except for the very few moments during which the engine is starting, and, further, that it is impossible for the circuit through the battery to become closed accidentally or otherwise than by the operator deliberately shifting the switch 26. The result is that a storage battery or-primary battery of small capacity will last al-' most indefinitely, since the amount of current used from said battery will be only trifling. It will also be seen that the mechanismis always ready for utilization instantly by the mere shifting of the switch and that once the switch has been shifted into position to start the engine the mechanism automatically takes care of itself and'transfers the circuit to the dynamo as soon as the latter is fully operating. In this connection it is to be particularly noted that whenever the dynamo has generated sufficient current to actuate the armature of the electromagnet the shifting of the switch into changed position will be instant and permanent. In other words, there will be no intervening period while the power of the dynamo is increasing, which would result in an imperfect shifting or vibratory movement of the switch if the movement ofthe latter were caused directly by the potency of the dynamocurrent, as would be the case if the electromagnet were retained in circuit with the dynamo and the energy of the magnet were depended upon for holding the circuitin shunted position through the dynamo. The employment, therefore, of a throw-over switch or season switch of analogous type shifting from one position permanently to another is important, and the arrangement whereby the magnet operates to cut itself out of the circuit is likewise important, since all danger of overheating the latter by the dynamo-circuit is avoided, and its winding may therefore be of high resistance,so that it will operate promptly and with a comparatively small current.

It will be understood that the particular details of mechanism herein described constitute what I deem to be a preferred embodiment of my invention and are in themselves believed to be novel and are therefore specifically claimed, but that the invention in its broader aspects is in no sense limited to the details shown herein and that in such sense these details are merely illustrative. 1 do not therefore limit myself to such details except to the extent that they are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electric ignition system, the combination with a motor and make-and-break contact sparking devices, of a dynamo operatively driven from said motor, an electric circuit extending from said dynamo through said sparking devices, a second source of electric current, an alternative circuit extending from said second source through the sparking devices, a power-impelled switch controlling according to position either of said circuits but tending to normally assume a position to open the second circuit, and means operable by the dynamo-current for automatically releasing said switch to open said second circuit.

2. In an electric ignition system, the combination with a motor and make-and-break contact sparking devices of a dynamo operatively driven from said motor, an electric circuit extending from said dynamo through said sparking devices, a second source of electric current, an alternative circuit extending from said second source through the sparking devices, a circuit-shunting device arranged to control said second circuit, and means operable by the dynamo-current for automatically throwing said circuit-shunting device into position to open said second circuit, said circuit-shunting device being constructed to remain in shunted position after being operated by said automatic mechanism, for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric ignition system, the combination with a motor and sparking devices operated thereby, of a dynamo driven from said motor, an electric circuit extending from said dynamo through said sparking devices, a battery, a second circuit extending from said battery through the sparking devices, said sparking devices being arranged in a part of said circuits common to both, amain overthrow-switch arranged to shunt the circuit through said battery or dynamo alternatively, a second switch device moving with said main switch device and arranged to control a magnet-circuit in shunt relation to the dynamo-circuit, electromagnet in said shuntcircuit, said second switch member being arranged to open the magnet-circuit when the main switch closes the dynamo-circuit through the sparking devices, and vice versa, and means operable by said magnet for automatically throwing the main switch into position to close the dynamo-circuit through the sparking devices,

i. In an electric ignition system, the combination with a motor and sparking devices operated thereby, of a dynamo driven from said motor, an electric circuit extending from said dynamo through said sparking devices, a battery, a second circuit extending from said battery through the sparking devices, said sparking devices being arranged in a part of said circuits common to both, a sparking-coil also included in that part of the circuit common to both, a main overthrow-switch arranged to shunt the circuit through said battery or dynamo alternatively, a second switch device moving with said main switch device and arranged to control a magnet-circuit in shunt relation to the dynamo-circuit, an electromagnet in said shunt-circuit, said second switch member being arranged to open the magnet-circuit when the main switch closes the dynamo-circuit through the sparking devices, and vice versa, and means operable by said magnet for automatically throwing the main switch into position to close the dynamo-circuit through the sparking devices.

5. In an electric ignition system, the combination with a motor and sparking devices operated thereby, of a dynamo driven from said motor, a two-point switch having a throwover switch member and a spring acting upon said switch to normally shift it into engagement with one of said points, a conductor extending from one side of said dynamo to that point of the switch with which said switch member is normally engaged, a second conductor leading from the opposite side of the dynamo to one of the sparking contact devices, a common return-conductor extending from the other sparking contact device to said shiftable switch member, a sparking-coil included in said common conductor, a battery, a conductor extending from said battery to the opposite or normally open point of the two-point switch, a conductor leading from the opposite side of said battery to one of the sparking contacts, an electromagnetcircuit arranged in shunt relation to the dynamo-circuit, an electromagnet interposed in said circuit provided with a spring-pressed armature yieldaoly held in open position, a second switch member connected and moving with, but insulated from said main shiftable switch member, and forming a part of said magnet-circuit, said second switch member being adapted for engagement with the armature when the latter is in open position to hold the main switch member in position to close the circuit through the battery against the tension of said spring, substantially as described.

6. In an electric ignition system, the com- 5 bination with a motor and sparking devices,

of a dynamo and dynamo-circuit, said dynamo being driven from the motor, a battery and battery-circuit and an electromagnet and magnet-circuit in shunt relation to the dynamo-circuit, and a switch mechanism operated and controlled by said electromagnet and operating to simultaneously open the battery and magnet circuits, and to close the dyna mo-eircuit when actuated by the magnet.

FRED L. GREGORY. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAVES, FREDERICK 0. GOODWIN. 

